Southern Tamandua
Tamandua tetradactyla
A tree-climbing anteater from South America that slurps up ants and termites with a 16-inch tongue.
Checking teacher reviews…
About the Southern Tamandua
Southern tamanduas are 21 to 31.5 inches long, with a 15- to 23-inch prehensile tail, and weigh about 10 pounds. Many have a dark 'vest' pattern on the shoulders and back. They live across much of South America in forests, savannas, rainforests and mangroves. They tear open ant and termite nests with their claws and lap up insects with a tongue up to 15.7 inches long.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Tamandua tetradactyla[1]
- Size
- 21 to 31.5 inches long, plus a 15- to 23-inch tail.[1]
- Weight
- About 10 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- About 9 years on average.[1]
- Diet
- Insectivore. Mostly tree ants and termites, plus bees and honey.[1]
- Habitat
- Forests, savannas, rainforests, scrub forests and mangroves.[1]
- Where it lives
- Much of South America, from Venezuela and the Guianas to Argentina and Uruguay.[1]
- Group life
- Solitary.[1]
- Babies
- One baby after a 130- to 150-day pregnancy.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2024).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- insectivore
- An animal that eats mainly insects.
- termite
- A small insect that lives in large colonies and eats wood.
- prehensile
- Able to grab or wrap around things, like a tail that holds onto branches.
- arboreal
- Living mostly in trees.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Small Mammal HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Southern tamandua.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/southern-tamandua (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Tamandua tetradactyla (Southern Tamandua).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/21350/210445394 (accessed 2026-10-08)
Facts last checked 2026-10-08.
